FAQ - General

The drive socket is a wear item and requires periodic replacement based on use. Vitamix® recommends inspecting drive sockets and centering pads weekly using the Blender Care & Maintenance Guide. Check for nicks, cracks, or gouges in the outer surface. If any are present, replace. Inspect the inner gear teeth of the drive socket. If worn, replace.

Drive sockets are fail safe mechanisms used to couple the motor to the blade assembly in Vitamix® machines. They are designed to protect the operator and the motor in the event a blade assembly is blocked from rotating.

Drive sockets also help reduce blending noise. A properly installed drive socket should be attached, but slightly loose. This will allow the drive socket to align with the container, reducing noise while blending.

The motor is designed with thermal overload protection, which senses when the motor has overheated and automatically stops the motor. Depending on how hot the unit became, it may take an hour or more to cool down. Once the unit has cooled, the thermal overload protection device will close and allow the unit to operate again. If this continues, please contact us at 800.886.5235 or commercialts@vitamix.com.

Blade assemblies are a wear item and require periodic replacement based on use. Vitamix® recommends inspecting blade assemblies weekly according to the Blender Care & Maintenance Guide instructions below. Contact us at 800.886.5235 or commercialts@vitamix.com if you determine that you need a replacement blade assembly.

Check for nicks, cracks, or gouges in the outer surface. If any are present, replace.

Inspect the blade assembly gear for signs of wear. The teeth of the gear should be deep and have continuous edges.

Inspect the bottom of the blade assembly below the gear. If you see that any part of the seal is torn, missing, or lifting, replace the blade assembly.

The sanitizer strength is too strong, or sanitizer is being used in conjunction with a high-temperature dish washer. Bleach sanitizer should be 100 ppm for polycarbonate containers. An overly strong sanitizer concentration will cause:

Milky or chalky appearance of containers

Hairline cracks in container edges or handle

Brittle containers

Bubbling or peeling of container

Blade assembly bearing seal failure

Rusty retainer nuts

Note: Use of improper sanitizer or sanitizer strength may void the container and blade assembly warranty.